Black Forest Trip

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December 11, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

We spent a long weekend in the Black Forest.

We stayed at the Terrassenpark Apartments in Sasbachwalden.

We cooked breakfast and dinner in our apartment. There were grills by the park too, but we didn’t get access to the grill grates as the caretaker had left for the weekend!

Recommended restaurants in the picturesque little town were this Teddy Bear-decorated place and another (Otto’s) for great salads.

It’s about 2 hours from Ramstein and almost 3 hours from Spangdahlem.

This was a great central location. It takes about an hour to go to Triberg or Wolfach or Kintzheim. It’s only 40 minutes to Strasbourg.

Our weekend itinerary:

Day 1: Friday

We visited Geroldsauer Waterfall and Mummelsee.

Day 2: Saturday

Morning: We went to Triberg for the waterfall and clock shop. Afternoon: We went to Monkey Mountain in Kintzheim, France!

Day 3: Sunday

We visited Dorothee’s Glass Hut in Wolfach and made vases!

Day 4: Monday

We hit Strasbourg, France, on the way home.

Other cool places we would love to go back to see!

We love Rick Steves for travel tips. We usually get books and videos from the library.

The flowery goodbye sign in Sasbachwalden:

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Triberg

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December 10, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

We visited Triberg for the waterfall and Oli’s Cuckoo Clock Shop.

The parking garage is right beside the river and these fun tikis with Bollenhut hats guard the area.

There’s a free public restroom across the bridge there.

To the right of the waterfall entrance, we found Oli’s Cuckoo Clock shop tucked away.

Oli’s is open from Easter until November every day from 10.00 a.m. till 6.00 p.m. In the winter months they are open irregular days and hours, so contact first!

We had a lovely tour of the shop and explanation of cuckoo clocks.

They explained that the “made in China” clocks have a little plastic button on the side. They are not handmade.

The workshop is amazing.

My favorite clocks were made with real mushrooms!

It was a difficult decision to choose a clock!

We finally all liked this one:

We got the family ticket to the Triberg Waterfall. There are several viewing platforms at different intervals and three different trails to follow.

Make sure to buy some popcorn for the birds and squirrels!

The path zigzags up to the top of the falls.

There’s a gazebo with seats for resting or taking pictures.

We watched the birds and squirrels for quite a long time.

This nutcracker bird cracked us up!

There’s this platform to stand on if you climb up this huge rock. It’s the perfect opportunity for a lovely scenic waterfall backdrop.

Waterfall Information:

Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00

July – August
Saturdays and Sundays
10:00 to 17:00

There is a parking lot near the waterfall entrance.

Waterfall Tickets:

Adults: €4,00

Children 8-17: €3,50

Family ticket: €9,50

See our entire Black Forest Weekend Itinerary.

Triberg is about 3 hours from Ramstein and 3.5 hours from Spangdahlem.

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Mummelsee

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December 9, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

At the recommendation of Sascha from our hotel, we first visited Mummelsee after arriving in the Black Forest.

The kids had fun with the photo op:

We walked around the lake.

The trees, wildflowers, and rocks were lovely.

The girls loved sunbathing on the deck at the far end of the lake. We walked around the lake on the trail.

The Mummelsee takes its name from the white water lilies popularly known as “mummel.” The lake is 1,036 meters above sea level. It’s a glacial cirque lake.

The lake is a great place to play at the playground, shop, walk, sunbathe, rent a paddleboat, eat, or stay.

We all loved the mermaid statue!

The kids wanted a photo with her.

We loved seeing the fun rock formations and little trickles of water along the trail.

The kids had never seen a rock dispenser before. So much better than candy!

This was a great activity after a couple hours in the car!

The kids played at the playground for a bit. We glanced in the gift shops – lots of fun things and snacks for now or later. We got a drink to share.

Mummelsee is about 2 hours from Ramstein and 3 hours from Spangdahlem.

See our entire Black Forest Weekend Itinerary.

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Dorothee’s Glass Hut

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December 8, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

The highlight of our Black Forest trip in September was Dorothee’s Glass Hut.

We toured the museum, created our very own glass vases, looked in the shop, and dined in the restaurant.

We were fascinated with watching the glass blowing.

These tools are great!

Here are the colored bits of glass that make the pretty designs.

We chose our 3-4 colors and he added them to the molten glass ball.

We blew the vases and the man shaped them.

Then he cut the vases off the pipe onto the tray.

We waited for them to set about an hour.

Then the vases were polished.

Here are our completed vases with lovely swirly designs.

Katie has been obsessed with glass art for quite some time, so this was a fun artsy trip for her and the rest of our family to blow our own glass vases!

Information about Dorothee’s Glass Hut:

Tour (without any commentary):
Each time the opening times daily 9:00- 17:00, last admission 16:30

Includes visit to Production and Museum, grinding and engraving, cinema

Glass bubbles for visitors:
Daily 9:00- 17:00 (last admission 16:30) Price per vase: €15

Sales Room:

Daily (including Sundays and public holidays): 9:00 – 17:30

Closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Family ticket (2 adults. To 4 children): €12,00

Adult: €5,00

Students (6 to 18 years / 1 – 6 years free): €3,00

Dorothee’s Glass Hut is about 2.5 hours from Ramstein and 3.5 from Spangdahlem.

See our entire Black Forest Weekend Itinerary.

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Karlsruhe Zoo and Botanical Garden

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November 2, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We took the train from Landstuhl to the Karlsruhe Zoo.

The entrance had a lovely sundial.

We like giraffes.

Alex is OBSESSED with foxes.

Kangaroos!

Polar bear was posing for us.

The hippos were delightful!

The otters were our favorite!

Check out my video of the Otters!

They had a fun splashy water feature.

We had a great time at the Karlsruhe Zoo!

Entrance fees:

Adults € 7,50

Students €5,00

Children 6-15: €3,50

Opening Times:

Summer: 08:00 – 18:00

Winter: 09:00 – 16:00, 17:00, or 17:30 (check for closing times during the month you visit)

Getting there:

We took the DB train from Landstuhl and switched lines at Neustadt. It was fun for the kids and easy to not have to drive or find parking. Kids are free during the week! When we exited the station, the zoo was directly across the street. Watch out for all the trolleys! We all got ice cream at the train station before we boarded the train for the trip back. Only €1 for a cone!

By car, it’s about 1 hour from Ramstein and 2.5 hours from Spangdahlem.

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Hohenecken Castle Ruins

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October 26, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We explored the Hohenecken Castle Ruins one afternoon.

It’s an easy drive from the KMC area. We were pleasantly surprised by this little gem in the woods.

We drove to Hohenecken village and parked in the public lot down the street from the entrance.

We walked and followed the signs to this hiking trail. Wild blackberries and pretty flowers lined the path.

The kids had fun walking up the hill and peeking through the trees to see the castle. It’s fun to see the wildflowers and berries.

The castle walls are still well-preserved.

The kids loved the little medieval festival that we didn’t even know was happening. Displays of knight’s armor, traditional cooking methods, and crafts were entertaining for the kids. We’ll review this for medieval studies in history!

There were handmade leather boots and naturally dyed yarn from local plants and berries.

The imperial castle “Honecken”, first mentioned in 1212, was constructed for the protection of the imperial lands and the imperial palace. It was the seat of the dynasty of the estate officials of Hohenecken whose members rose to high office. In 1481 one quarter of the castle was sold to the Electorate of the Palatinate. In 1525, during the Peasants’ War, it was ravaged by peasants.
Around 1560 the castle was expanded. Following disputes between the Hohenecken family and the Electorate, it was partially destroyed in 1668 and completely blown up by French troops in 1689 during the Palatine War of Succession. The ruins are one of the most impressive testimonies of Hohenstaufen architecture.

The tower and tree in the courtyard.

Keep an eye on the kids if they wander and explore. There are no railings and lots of rubble, holes, places with no steps.

The view from the castle of the village:

The ruins and festival were free, which we love! It’s an easy hike with kids. They had fun exploring.

Hohenecken is about 20 minutes from Ramstein and 1.5 hours from Spangdahlem.

Studying Castles and the Middle Ages

Resources:

A Medieval Feast Unit Celebration
Knights and Castles Lapbook
This castle-shaped lapbook is way cute!
Lots of Middle Ages activities from Homeschool Share
Middle Ages Notebooking & Coloring Pages
Medieval Unit Study

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Visit to Dachau

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September 28, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

After our idyllic weekend in Bavaria, we drove home past Munich and visited Dachau.

It was a humbling experience for our family visiting Dachau to learn about WWII history.

We recently had studied about Dachau and other concentration camps in our history studies.

There is a tragic beauty to the area with its trees, memorials, and austere gravel path.

For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.
Elie Wiesel

We were quiet and wide-eyed as we emerged from the visitor’s center and restrooms, and seemed to leave modern society.

There are stations with signs throughout for a self-guided tour.

We followed the path which mimics that of the prisoners entering the concentration camp.

I whispered explanations and read the station signs aloud to the children.

Station 1: In Front of the Jourhaus

The Dachau Concentration Camp opened with the arrival of the first prisoners on March 22, 1933. This is a remnant of the train platform and tracks.

The Jourhaus served as the main exit and entrance to the prisoners’ camp and as the main office of the camp SS.

Station 2: The Jourhaus

The Jourhaus served as the main exit and entrance to the prisoners’ camp and as the main office of the camp SS personnel.

The ominous front gate with its ironic motto: Work Makes Free.

I shed tears as I walked through these gates.

Station 3: International Memorial

Officially dedicated in 1968, the International Monument was designed by the Yugoslavian artist and concentration camp survivor, Nandor Glid.

International Monument - Sculpture by Nandor Glid

Station 4: Maintenance Building

Today the exhibition documenting the history of the Dachau concentration camp is located in the rooms of the former maintenance building.

We rushed through the museum last since I wanted to make sure we saw the memorials.

We skipped the video as recommended for ages 12+. They were locking the doors as we finished the last part of the exhibit.

During the ordeal of roll call, the prisoners were confronted with the inscription painted on the roof of the maintenance building which read: “There is one path to freedom. Its milestones are: obedience, honesty, cleanliness, sobriety, diligence, orderliness, self-sacrifice, truthfulness, love of the fatherland.”

Station 5: Shunt Room

This is the section of the Maintenance Building where prisoners were admitted.

Station 6: Prisoner Baths

Also in the Maintenance Building. The baths were the last station of the admission procedure.

Station 7: Courtyard and Bunker

There were three detention buildings (bunkers) in camp.

Station 8: Roll-call Square

The open area was able to hold fifty thousand people.

May the example of those who were exterminated here between 1933 and 1945 because of their fight against National Socialism unite the living in their defense of peace and freedom and in reverence of human dignity.

Station 9: Barracks

A total of 34 barracks were located on the right and left of the camp road. It was pretty devastating to view the conditions of the 2 reconstructed barracks. Outlined beds of gravel show the location of the former barracks. They have numbers in front of each bed.

Station 10: Camp Road

A line of evenly-spaced poplar trees was planted on each side of the camp road in 1937. The original trees were cut down in 1964 and the current trees were planted in the 1980s.

I was reminded of this poem by my favorite poet:

Wind shakes the big poplar,
quicksilvering
The whole tree in a single sweep.
What bright scale fell and left this needle quivering?
What loaded balances have come to grief?

~Seamus Heaney

And Psalm 137: 1-6:

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
    when we remembered Zion.
There on the poplars
    we hung our harps,
for there our captors asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

How can we sing the songs of the Lord
    while in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
    if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
    my highest joy.

There are seven watchtowers. The grass was off-limits. Prisoners were shot if they touched the grass.

Station 11: Crematorium

We did not go into this area. There are some monuments.

Station 12: Religious Memorials

Carmelite Convent
The Protestant Church of Reconciliation
The Jewish Memorial
The Russian-Orthodox Chapel
The Mortal Agony of Christ Chapel (below)

Station 13: International Memorial

This part of the monument recalls the triangle badges that marked every prisoner as of 1937.

At the end of the monument are the words “Never Again” in Yiddish using Hebrew letters, and in French, English, German and Russian.

An urn with the ashes of the unknown concentration camp prisoner lies before it and recalls the fate of the thousands of people whose corpses were burnt in the crematorium. It was buried here in May 1967. The panel on the left narrow side of the monument notes further: “This monument was erected in honor of the tens of thousands of martyrs, who died here as victims of National Socialist tyranny and was dedicated on September 8, 1968 by the Comité International de Dachau.”

When we left, we started to walk down the Path of Remembrance, but it was too far and we were all exhausted.

The commandant’s house:

Former Business Enterprises of the Dachau Concentration Camp

We saw this poignant memorial as we left the parking lot. We didn’t notice it when we turned in.

My children were aged 5, 8, 9, and 14 when we visited Dachau. They understood and were respectful of all the monuments and exhibits. You know your kids best, if they can handle and understand such an experience. It was very moving.

Visitor Info:

Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed December 24.

Entry is free. Parking fees are €3,00 per car.

View the guidelines for visitors here. (We saw a man wearing a pretty graphic inappropriate T-shirt. Don’t be that guy.)

It’s about 4 hours from Ramstein and 5.5 hours from Spangdahlem.

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Appel Happel Tour

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September 22, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We took a field trip to Appel Happel to pick apples!

We learned about apples.

There was a short presentation about apples and how they grow on the trees and the parts inside.

We got to compare the different varieties.

We got watch and try an old-fashioned apple press and taste the juice.

It was really crowded. We’re patiently waiting our turn.

We got to see all the apples inside the coolers.

A funny sign inside the warehouse.

We were anxious to pick apples!

The rows had handwritten signs to show the different apple varieties.

Pretty ripe apples

It was fun exploring the different apples.

Tori checks the apples for bruises or holes.

Alex looks for the best apple.

Wheelbarrows are fun and quicker to get to the end of the rows.

Here’s a crate of apples we collected.

Time for treats after all that hard work! Cakes, muffins, and unfiltered apple juice.

There are 15 different kinds of apples to pick from August to October!

Apple varieties: Delba, Santana, Elstar, Gala, Cox Orangen, Rubinette, Berlepsch, Boskoop, Pinova, Topas, Jonagold, Wellant, Fuji, Braeburn, Birnen, Zwetschen

You get wheelbarrows to pick apples. The apples are then weighed and you pay. It’s best to bring your own bags or crate to carry them home.

The shop sells other great produce and products like fresh baked goods and apple drinks.

Check which apple and pear varieties are ripe during which months.

There’s an apple fest one weekend in September.

Open Door Day offers kids’ activities in October.

Appel Happel is about an hour from Ramstein and 1.5 hours from Spangdahlem.

Linking up: Chestnut Grove Academy, Sunny Day Family,

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Fairy Tale Castles

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September 21, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We spent the weekend in Bavaria in May. We stayed at Edelweiss, which was well-positioned for what we wanted to see and do.

One day we drove to see the fairy tale castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenchwangau!

The trip was little over an hour from Garmisch. The route took us a bit through Austria. Make sure you have an international driver’s license. And stop at a Petrol station on the border to get your toll sticker!

Parking and Tickets

There are several parking lots at the base of the hill. I think we paid €6 for the day.

We got there early to get in line to purchase tickets at the ticket center in Hohenschwangau. We didn’t have to wait too long!

TV screens show the tour times so you have to request when you wish to tour each castle, so make sure you have time to hike to the castles, rest, eat, use the toilet, and see the museum!

You can also order tickets online. You have to figure what time you want your tours and how much time it will take at each castle and the museum if you get the combo ticket. There is a separate line in the same building on the right side to pick up your prepaid tickets. You’ll see the sign.

Children under 18 are admitted FREE!

We got two combo tickets “Königsschlösser” (both castles and the museum): €24 each

Getting to the Castles

There are shuttle buses and carriage rides to the castles. Shuttles – Ascent: € 1,80 Descent: € 1.00 Both Ascent and Descent: € 2,60. Carriage rides – Ascent € 6,00 Descent € 3,00. Or you can hike up for free. The roads are paved but steep.

We were all excited to see Neuschwanstein Castle.

I didn’t brave the bridge (Marienbrücke) to get the really cool pictures. My family is still mad at me. See some pics here. It is now closed for renovations.

The entrance gate to Neuschwanstein Castle.

No photography is allowed inside. There are a lot of swans.

We promised the kids we could take the horse and carriage ride down from Neuschwanstein Castle. The hike up was very steep and we were exhausted.

We grabbed some quick lunch from a shop at the base of the Neuschwanstein trail- wurst, goulash, and snitzel. Everybody was happy.

I was surprised by the appearance of the yellow Hohenschwangau Castle.

There were lovely fountains and gardens.

Again, no photography inside. There were lovely murals on the walls.

The kids liked the Museum of the Bavarian Kings and looking at the Alpsee.

The view from the car on the way back to Edelweiss: Tirolian Austrian Alps. Just gorgeous.

On the way back to Edelweiss, we ate at Waldwirtschaft am Mittersee.

The couple who owned and ran it were just precious. They were so welcoming and concerned about us.

We got traditional regional food: pork knuckle and fish.

The salad was delightful.

Liz and I shared a flaming strudel for dessert.

The kids got these adorable clown ice cream sundaes.

This has been one of our favorite trips so far!

See our Weekend in Bavaria.

Studying Castles and the Middle Ages

Resources:

A Medieval Feast Unit Celebration
Knights and Castles Lapbook
This castle-shaped lapbook is way cute!
Lots of Middle Ages activities from Homeschool Share
Middle Ages Notebooking & Coloring Pages
Medieval Unit Study

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A Weekend in Bavaria

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September 14, 2015 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

We took a weekend trip to Bavaria in May.

The weather was still quite cool. We brought waterproof windbreakers and that was plenty warm enough.

We stayed at the Edelweiss Lodge & Resort in Garmisch.

Our Edelweiss Lodge Review

Accommodations

I chose to stay here for a break from German and it was convenient and we were eligible. It was refreshing to be able to speak English and relax a little.

Edelweiss has a wellness club with massage, fitness center, and a great pool with the most amazing hot tub area I’ve ever seen in my life.

The kids loved the outdoor playground and I could see them from our balcony.

We stayed in a Junior Suite on the 3rd floor corner that was quite comfortable for all 6 of us.

We loved the bathrooms! There was a small powder room on one side with a toilet and sink and a full bath on the other side with a tub/shower combo, shower stall, two sinks, and a toilet.

The balcony was a great addition to relax. There were a couple chairs and a little table.

And FREE Wi-Fi is always great for planning our days and finding somewhere to eat.

The resort itself is a bit rundown looking. The carpet is worn and the furnishings could use replacing. You can tell this is not really a priority. They have no competition.

Room Rates by Rank and Room Type:

	E1-E6 (As of 1 Oct 2015, $89 for a standard room)	E7-E9 / CW01-CW03 O1-O3 / Widows 100% Disabled / MoH	CW4-CW5 O4-O10 ALL CIVILIANS SES / NATO
Standard Room	$86	$139	$149
Junior Suite	$169	$169	$169
Deluxe Junior Suite	$189	$189	$189
Loft Suite	$229	$229	$229
Deluxe Loft Suite	$269	$269	$269

Rooms are equipped with European 220v plugs only. A simple adapter will work fine as long as your appliance is dual voltage (accepts 120v and 220v). Adapters are available for purchase at Alpine Adventures (a gift shop). Pets are not allowed. Children under 17 stay for free on available bed space.

Apparently, there are also cabins and a campground available.

You can book activities and tours through Alpine Adventures. We just ventured out on our own.

Dining

Zuggy’s Base Camp is a fun family-friendly sports bar. They had amazing chicken wings and pizza. 22 pizza toppings, 4 sauces, and 3 different cheeses! Chicken wings in 9 different flavors. Delectable potato wedges and onion rings. Happy hour drink specials with great local beer!

Bar Open: Daily / 1700 – 2400 Food Service: Thu – Sat / 1700 – 2300 and Sun – Wed / 1700 – 2100

Market Station had a big breakfast buffet. I thought it was rather expensive, but it was super convenient. There are plenty of choices on the hot bar that made us happy – cheesy grits, cottage potatoes, French toast, ham. We didn’t care for the cheap, greasy bacon or cold, hard biscuits. There’s also an omelet and pancake station to please almost everyone.

Breakfast: Mon – Fri 0630 – 1000 hrs / Sat & Sun 0630 – 1030 hrs | Adults $9 / Children $3 (ages 5 – 11) / 4 and under FREE

The coffee wasn’t great, but they serve Starbuck’s at the Point Snack Bar near the Wellness Center that opens early!

I do not recommend Market Station for dinner. The one time we ate there for dinner, the food was not fresh nor appealing. It had the quality of cheap TV dinners. Luckily, they had a pizza station and a grill for burgers or marinated boneless chicken breast.

Nightly Dinner Buffet from 1630 – 2000 hrs | Adults $16 / Children $5 (ages 5 – 11) / 4 and under FREE

We never saw Pullman Place dining open.

The view of the mountains was breathtaking.

Visiting Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

It’s about 5 hours from Ramstein and 6 hours from Spangdahlem.

USAG Bavaria around the corner from Edelweiss has a small commissary, Shoppette with gas station, and a small eXchange. We got gas for local travels and before we headed home. We bought some beer and souvenirs at the eXchange. They had a great selection.

We ate lunch upon recommendation at Bistro Mukkefuck. We said the name lots because it’s funny. Yes, my humor is that of a 12-year-old.

Liz ordered the shrimp scampi.

Alex’s kids portion of Schnitzel with corn and Spätzle was huge!

Tori and Kate loved their potato and tomato soups.

Phenomenal turkey schnitzel, white Spargel (asparagus) soup, and pork cutlets. The au gratin potatoes were delicious (bottom of collage)!

And I just love Bavarian beer.

We got gelato at one of the many options and window shopped.

We enjoyed strolling through the lovely Michael-Ende-Kurpark (spa-gardens) in Garmisch.

Lots of pretty gardens, koi pond, sculptures, a barefoot pad with this fun sluice and water wheel. It was a bit too cold though.

Around the Area Things to Do:

We hiked through Partnach Gorge. We loved it!

We drove about an hour away to the Storybook Castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

We did not tour Zugspitze. I know it’s popular. We didn’t bring warm enough clothes. And it’s pretty expensive for all 6 of us to go up a mountain for a pretty view. We don’t ski. And heights.

We didn’t go see the longest pedestrian bridge in Austria either. Because heights.

Eagle’s Nest isn’t too far away, but we just didn’t have time in our schedule to drive there.

We visited Dachau Concentration Camp on our way back home.

Booking.com for European accommodations

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